MMA

FLOYD MAYWEATHER has announced that his next exhibition fight will be against MMA star Mikuru Asakura in Japan.The boxing legend, 45, announced the news at a Las Vegas press conference and said it will take place in Japan in September versus the Tokyo native.
Floyd Mayweather will return to the ring in September in JapanCredit: Getty
He will face MMA fighter Mikuru Asakura in Japan in his latest exhibitionCredit: Rizin
Mayweather will take on the 29-year-old former RIZIN Featherweight title challenger in a bout that is expected to air on the new “RIZIN Fight Pass.” 
Southpaw Asakura has 16 wins from his 20 bouts inside the cage – eight by knockout.
The featherweight was last in action against Yutaka Saito at Rizin 33 – Saitama on December 31 and tasted victory via unanimous decision.
The American icon walked away from professional boxing after beating UFC superstar Conor McGregor in ten rounds.
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BOXING.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-h98a3b{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(236,245,247,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}FACED THE USYK .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}AJ ‘BAFFLED’ by his performance against Usyk as Hearn teases tactics change
Mayweather officially retired in 2017 but has been involved in three exhibitions in the ring since.
The first was in 2018 against featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in Tokyo which was promoted by RIZIN.
He marked his return by wiping out Nasukawa, 23, in one round of their mismatch.
Mayweather then faced YouTuber Logan Paul, 27, in June 2021 and gave away TWO STONE in the spectacle fight.
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It went the full eight-round distance as Paul technically avoided defeat.
Mayweather’s most recent cameo in the ring came in May against former sparring partner Don Moore.
The fight was initially set to be held atop of a hotel HELIPAD in Dubai, 700ft above sea level, before it was scrapped ONE DAY beforehand.
It followed after the death of former UAE President Sheikh Khalifa, who passed away aged 73.
Mayweather would instead dominate Moore a week late in Abu Dhabi.
And now he is set to return to Japan again and link up with the MMA organisation for another exhibition bout.

Asakura has 16 wins from his 20 bouts inside the cageCredit: Getty More

FIGHT fans been amazed by a brutal bareknuckle knockout – and the amount of SPIT that flew out of the victim’s mouth.Alan Belcher was taking on Frank Tate as part of a Bareknuckle Fighting Championship Fight Night in Mississippi on Saturday.
Belcher found the perfect shot to end the contest as spit sprayed from Tate’s mouth
Tate was knocked out from the shot as Belcher picked up the victory
It was Belcher who found the finishing shot with a brutal right hand to end the contest.
And the ferociousness of the shot knocked a large amount of saliva out of Tate’s mouth.
Reacting to the KO, one social media user said: “Knocked the 60% water out of this man’s body.”
Another added: “Coach forgot to give him the bucket to spit in 😮.”
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SPORT.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-h98a3b{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(236,245,247,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}’WHAT A LOOKER’ .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Fury’s dad John reveals unseen throwback snap as young bareknuckle fighter
A third said: “Wtf was in his mouth – the ocean?!”
But another responded: “Tate always keeps water in his mouth. I’ve noticed that before.”
Belcher’s knockout – which came in the first round – takes his bareknuckle record to 3-0.
The 38-year-old enjoyed a nine-year MMA career in which he spent much of that with the UFC.
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His final MMA fight came in a defeat to Michael Bisping in 2013, before he turned to grappling in 2014.
Last year he then came out of retirement to start bareknuckle fighting and so far has secured three successive victories.
His first win came by decision against Tony Lopez, but he has followed that up with a pair of first round KOs. More